Disability attorney? Any tips?

[luvwinnie]

I know there are several people on here from the NJ area. IF anyone knows of a decent disability attorney in Northern NJ, i'd love a suggestion OR tips on how to find one. Yes, I've googled and have a list, i'm just completely out of my comfort zone here. My husband suffered life-threatening health issues back in November and short-term will be running out in May. Thank you.

 

[barkley]

if you are talking about those that do social security disability-don't hold off on filing pending finding an attorney. you want the earliest application date your husband is eligible to-because if it's approved it can take A LONG TIME (even applications that are clearly eligible/don't get initially denied can take months on end for actual approval/monies issued) and you want to protect that application date.

around here most attorneys won't even take on an ss disability case until it's hit a certain point in the denial process (you always appeal the denial-not reapply b/c that way if it's granted it goes back to the original application date).

if you haven't already you might want to call social security to see if your husband is eligible now to get the application filed.

 

[luvwinnie]

Thank you. Yes, i'm reading now that there may be no point in hiring an attorney until you are denied (which happens more often than not even with a clear case it seems, sad.) He meets the "requirements" on paper that's for sure and he certainly cannot work. I also just read it's better to go in person to SS than apply online.

 

[cabanafrau]

It won't hurt to continue working on locating a good attorney to work with so you will be ready when the time comes. Try taking a look online at your state bar association to see if you can come up with some names of those who specialize in that area of the law.

Good luck to you and your husband. I hope he recovers as much as possible soon.

 

[sasywtch]

My guy friend is one who actually got his without an attorney so there is hope! He did go in person to apply. All paperwork he received from SS had information on when you might need an attorney. They will dissect everything your husband's doctor has written down including if his doctor wrote side notes. My friend mentioned to the doctor he was bored (used to working fulltime). Dr asked him what he was doing, he said gardening, some other things and mentioned he went to the casino twice a month for fun. SS read that and his son is in charge of his ss check. After 6 months he could petition it but since the son just tranfers the money to his account, they haven't gone through the trouble.
All of this from a mosquito. West Nile Virus-Enciphilitis-enciphilitis induced parkinsonism

 

[luvwinnie]

My guy friend is one who actually got his without an attorney so there is hope! He did go in person to apply. All paperwork he received from SS had information on when you might need an attorney. They will dissect everything your husband's doctor has written down including if his doctor wrote side notes. My friend mentioned to the doctor he was bored (used to working fulltime). Dr asked him what he was doing, he said gardening, some other things and mentioned he went to the casino twice a month for fun. SS read that and his son is in charge of his ss check. After 6 months he could petition it but since the son just tranfers the money to his account, they haven't gone through the trouble.
All of this from a mosquito. West Nile Virus-Enciphilitis-enciphilitis induced parkinsonism

Scary. Believe me I know how your life can change in an instant. My husband had an aortic dissection out of nowhere and then a stroke during surgery. He's a walking miracle.

 

[smokeyblue]

Please file. I had two co-workers that had career ending illnesses and they got their disability immediately without an attorney; well as immediately as one can. One had a parkinsons-like disease and the other had myasthenia gravis. Good luck.

 

[disney world dreamer]

myself and my mom both filed for disability without a lawyer and were both approved the first time so it is possible that you won't need a lawyer and won't be denied the first time either.

what you need to do is just learn how to fill out the forms properly.
for every question you need to think in terms of the worst day not the average day.
i don't know what disability/illness your husband had but for example if he is so sick some days he can barely get out of bed or his back hurts so bad that its hard for him to dress himself then those are the days he needs to have in his mind when answering the questions.

 

[disney world dreamer]

also i would not go in person at least not until you have looked over the forms yourself to decide how to answer them.
most employees are going to try to get you to answer questions with your "best day" in mind and that is how so many are denied the first time.

at least if you fill them out yourself you can take the time to carefully answer the questions how you want to answer them and not feel pressured to answer them quickly and hastily in person.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I am assuming this is talking about Social Security Disability. I know from some close to home experience that it can take a long time to get it going. My ex filed in like October of one year, didn't receive benefits until July of the next one (thankfully he had long-term disability insurance too). Of course they can pay "retroactive" for lack of a better term.... but that doesn't do somebody a lot of good in the present. What ended up happening is just one day (seemingly out of the blue) they dumped like several months worth of money in his account. His situation was a bit strange because he was receiving long term through work and had a law firm assigned to the case. When the SS disability finally came through, the work disability took their money back, (but it was replaced by the SS disability all in one lump some). The lawyers took their cut of it though. He now receives a monthly deposit from SS and it is working fine as far as I know.

Moral of the story... don't delay because it can take a while.

 

[luvwinnie]

Thank you all. Going to print out the forms today. yes this is SS disability. Ironically I have long term disability insurance through work but he does not He sees his cardio and Neuro next week and we will discuss with them also.